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Patented Get. 2, 1928.

muren stares ortica.

ELBERT O. BROWER, OF HUNTINGTON, NE'W YORK.

SURFACE 'PROJEOTILE This invention relates to amusement devices, and more particularly to games or puzzles in which one or more players or operators cause one or more traveling elements to move upon a game board or'similar element by tilting or otherwise manipulating the latter.

This invention, and the invention described and claimed in my United States-patent ap plication, Serial No. 265,418, liled March 28, 1928, may be regarded as specilic forms of a generic invention having for its general object the production of traveling elements having novel characteristics of behavior which will be interesting and entertaining. A particular objectof the present invention is to provide a traveling element which is very inexpensive to manufacture. Another particular object of the present invention is to provide a traveling element which readily can be made of very small size, and is adapted to operate satisfactorily upon a iioor element of relatively small area.

In the drawing, Fig. l shows one orm ot my invention, being partly in plan view and partly in cross-section.

Figure 2 shows a similar view of a diierent form. l,

Figure 3 shows a similar view oit still another form.

In Fig. l, l is a simple cylinder, which may be made of brass, and which may be plated with nickel or otherwise it desired. In the middle of the cylinder l is cut an annular groove 2, which forms a seat for the ring 3 which may be of rubber. A particular function oi' the ring 3 is to provide near the middle of the cylinder, a relatively sharp ridge or tire having a perimeter greater than the perimeter of either end of the cylinder, and adapted to permit the device to roll upon a floor element 4 which is approximately level while having` contact therewith at aportion ol' this large perimeter and at either end of the cylinder l.

2 shows an embodiment which may be ol lead, and which may be cast in the form shown, which is that of two equal Jfrusta of cones of revolution placed with their larger bases in coincidence.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the embodiment of Fig. 2; the form being altered in an attempt to simulate the general form of a tadpole.

The center of gravity of the embodiment of Fig. 2 is coincident with the common cen- ApplicatiOn filed April 2l, 1928. Serial N0. 271,788.

ter of the larger bases of the frusta; and in any embodiment, the center of gravity of the device should be not too far from the analogous point, that is to say, the center of that lateral section which has the greatest diameter. In a case where the ends of the device are of different form, as in the embodiment of Fig. 3, it may be possible to eect a proper balance by modifying the exterior form only; and in some other cases a proper balance may be obtained less simply by drilling holes into oneportion of the device in order to make this portion of lesser weight.

It is plain that the embodiment of Fig. 2

`will be in stable equilibrium, as regards the inclination of its axis, while it is resting upon a level floor element as indicated in the figure. When this embodiment rolls upon a| dat floor element, its path is substantially circular, and the device is disposed to remain in this circular path, so long as its velociy is not too great, if the floor element is not tilted or disturbed too much; however such motion in a curved path involves a centrifugal force which tends to tip the device so as to bring its elevated end down to Contact with the floor element. If the centrifugal force prevails thus, the device continues to roll, but about a new center, and with a new centrifir gal force which tends to effect another such tipping action. rIhe greater the velocity ot the device, the shorter the interval between successive tipping actions, and the more nearly does the path approach a straight line.

It 'the edge 6, Fig. 2, were rounded off too much, the device would be too much inclined to .follow such an approximately straight path.

yIhe angle of the cones may be made as I have shown it in the figure. It the angle is made too much smaller, the behavior of the device is less interesting. It the angle is iliade too much greater, too high a velocity of the device, or too violent a disturbance of the i'ioor element, is required to etleet the tipping action.

"When a plurality of the devices are used at the same time upon one floor element, and it is desired to move each device to some particular station thereon, one device may be mancenvred to its station while ignoring the actions ot the others, and then it becomes a problem how to manipulatedhe floor element so as to cause another device to travel as desired wit-hout disturbing the first enough to malte it tip. It the door element is given a sudden limited movement of simple translation, two devices which were at rest thereon, and dii'erently oriented, may be affected very dil'crently; for example, one may be caused to tip .in'imediately Without previously rolling', and the other may be started rolling in its path without being caused to leave the saine. H the floor element is given a movement ol" rotation about a center which is near one device thereon, this one may be affected much lees than another device which is located at a distance from said center'.

VJ hat I claim l. fr surface projectile consisting of an elongated body or' greatest diameter near its center of I`gravity; the form of this portion of said body being abruptlj7 tapered longitudinally in both directions from the circumference of said diameter.

Q. In an amusement device7 an elongated body having a sharp ridge on its peripherj7 intermediate its ends, in combination with a movable Hoor element for said body to roll and move upon g the peripheries of said ridge and ot said ends being approximately circular, and the perimeter o said ridge being I`greater than the perimeter of either of said ends.

3. A surface projectile having substantially the Vform olf two frusta of cones placed with their larger bases in coincidence.

et. A surace projectile havingr substantiallv 'the 'term of two frusta of cones of revolution placed with their larger bases in coincidence.

5. A surface projectile or game piece having subsitantially the l'orm ot two frusta of cones of revolution placed With their larger 1at-aees in coincidence; the angles of said cones being equal.

Signed by me at Huntington, N. Y., this twentieth day oi April, 1928.

ELBERT O. BROWER. 

